Corpse Flower (Amorphophallus titanum) Trivia Questions

False. While native to Sumatra, corpse flowers are cultivated in botanical gardens worldwide, including the US, and can bloom successfully in controlled environments.

True. 'Amorpho' means shapeless, 'phallus' means penis, and 'titanum' means giant. The name refers to its large, phallic-looking spadix.

False. The corpse flower only emits its rotting-flesh smell, day or night. It has no sweet scent; bees are not its target pollinators.

True. Its rotting flesh smell mimics a dead animal to lure carrion-eating insects (like flies and beetles) as pollinators, not mammals like humans or bears.

False. The bloom lasts only 24–48 hours. After that, the flower collapses quickly. It's one of the shortest blooming periods of any plant.

False. It typically takes 7–10 years, not over a decade, for a corpse flower grown from seed to first bloom—though 10+ years is possible but not the norm.

True. Despite its giant size and stench, Amorphophallus titanum belongs to the Araceae (aroid) family, which includes calla lilies and peace lilies.

True. The central spadix can reach about 96°F (36°C) to help volatilize the stinky chemicals, making the scent travel farther to attract pollinators.